Actus v, Scæna vj

[R. Roister. M. Merygreeke. C. Custance. G. Goodlucke. T. Trustie. D. Doughtie. Harpax.]
R. ROYSTER.
May I then be bolde?

M. MERY.
I warrant you on my worde,
They say they shall be sicke, but ye be at theyr borde.

R. ROYSTER.
Thei wer not angry then.

M. MERY.
Yes at first, and made strange
But when I sayd your anger to fauour shoulde change,
And therewith had commended you accordingly,
They were all in loue with your mashyp by and by.
And cried you mercy that they had done you wrong.

R. ROYSTER.
For why, no man, woman, nor childe can hate me long.

M. MERY.
We feare (quod they) he will be auenged one day,
Then for a peny giue all our liues we may.

R ROYSTER.
Sayd they so in deede.

M. MERY.
Did they? yea, euen with one voice
He will forgiue all (quod I) Oh how they did reioyce.

R ROYSTER.
Ha, ha, ha.

M. MERY.
Goe fette hym (say they) while he is in good moode,
For haue his anger who lust, we will not by the Roode.

R. ROYSTER.
I pray God that it be all true, that thou hast me tolde,
And that she fight no more.

M. MERY.
I warrant you, be bolde
Too them, and salute them.

R. ROYSTER.
Sirs, I greete you all well.

OMNES.
Your maistership is welcom.

C. CUSTANCE.
Sauyng my quarell.
For sure I will put you vp into the Eschequer.

M. MERY.
Why so? better nay: Wherfore?

C. CUSTANCE.
For an vsurer.

R. ROYSTER.
I am no vsurer good mistresse by his armes.

M. MERY.
When tooke he gaine of money to any mans harmes?

C. CUSTANCE.
Yes, a fowle vsurer he is, ye shall see els.

R. ROYSTER.
Didst not thou promise she would picke no mo quarels?

C. CUSTANCE.
He will lende no blowes, but he haue in recompence
Fiftene for one, whiche is to muche of conscience.

R. ROYSTER.
Ah dame, by the auncient lawe of armes, a man
Hath no honour to foile his handes on a woman.

C. CUSTANCE.
And where other vsurers take their gaines yerely,
This man is angry but he haue his by and by.

GA. GOODL.
Sir, doe not for hir sake beare me your displeasure.

M. MERY.
Well, he shall with you talke therof more at leasure.
Vpon your good vsage, he will now shake your hande.

R. ROYSTER.
And much heartily welcome from a straunge lande.

M. MERY.
Be not afearde Gawyn to let him shake your fyst.

GA. GOODL.
Oh the moste honeste gentleman that ere I wist.
I beseeche your mashyp to take payne to suppe with vs.

M. MERY.
He shall not say you nay and I too, by Iesus.
Bicause ye shall be friends, and let all quarels passe.

R. ROYSTER.
I wyll be as good friends with them as ere I was.

M. MERY.
Then let me fet your quier that we may haue a song.

R. ROYSTER.
Goe.

G. GOODLUCK.
I haue hearde no melodie all this yeare long.

M. MERY.
Come on sirs quickly.

R. ROYSTER.
Sing on sirs, for my frends sake.

D. DOUGH.
Cal ye these your frends?

R. ROYSTER.
Sing on, and no mo words make.

[Here they sing.]

GA. GOOD.
The Lord preserue our most noble Queene of renowne,
And hir virtues rewarde with the heauenly crowne.

C. CUSTANCE.
The Lorde strengthen hir most excellent Maiestie,
Long to reigne ouer vs in all prosperitie.

T. TRUSTY.
That hir godly proceedings the faith to defende,
He may stablishe and maintaine through to the ende.

M. MERY.
God graunt hir as she doth, the Gospell to protect,
Learning and vertue to aduaunce, and vice to correct.

R. ROYSTER.
God graunt hir louyng subiects both the minde and grace,
Hir most godly procedyngs worthily to imbrace.

HARPAX.
Hir highnesse most worthy counsellers God prosper,
With honour and loue of all men to minister.

OMNES.
God graunt the nobilitie hir to serue and loue,
With all the whole commontie as doth them behoue.

AMEN.